Who are Mechanical Engineers?

By: Maura Zawaski, Haley Lampe, Courtney OLeary, Kelli Koppes

November 28 th

Materials:
-Role sticks, toilet paper rolls, pom-pom balls (5), paper towel rolls (4), posterboard (4) little
basket, ribbon spool, straws (2), duct tape, thick popsicle sticks (4), thin popsicle sticks (16),
rubber bands, marshmallows, simple machines, poster of mechanical engineer (2), direction
sheets for simple machines (10- Four of MC, four of PPD), containers for materials (10),
ENGAGE
1. Hand out different machines to each group. Students will test the machines by
experimenting with them. (can opener, pencil sharpener, scissors, mechanical pencil, glue
stick, stapler, remote, toy tractor)
2. Split the students into five groups. Pick one machine within your group. Students will
share this among their whole class group.
1. What is your machine and whats the purpose?

EXPLORE
Machine: instrument that transforms or uses energy in order to do work
This definition will be displayed on a posterboard
Most are made up of multiple parts or components
Refer back to ENGAGE: Think back to the machines you investigated at the beginning
of the lesson. Does your group machine represent this definition of a machine? Why or
why not?
EXPLAIN
One of us will explain one machine (stapler) after the groups explore and discuss. Other
questions to talk about aloud include:
What are the advantages of using this machine?
What are the disadvantages of using this machine?
One of us will talk about mechanical engineers by saying, Mechanical engineers must think
about how the parts of a machine work to change or use energy to complete a task. They also
think about how the machine makes doing a job easier. (Picture of mechanical engineer and
what he is thinking)
EXTEND (ELABORATE)
Students will think as mechanical engineers:
1. Hand out sheet that describes directions of how to make the machine (provide materials)
1. Use student sticks as key roles: materials manager (gathers materials for the group
and makes sure all materials are being used effectively), group leader (makes sure
the group stays on task), recorder (writes down the reasoning for the questions
 discussed), reporter (speaks on behalf of the group regarding discussion
questions).
2. All group members should contribute to building the simple machine.
b. Groups will present their machines to the class. Questions to answer:
What makes this a machine?
What are some advantages of using this machine?
What would you need to do if you did not have this machine?
What are some disadvantages of using this machine?
How could you improve the machines to make them more efficient?
EVALUATE
Think of other machines in which your action causes a motion that performs a different
action. Questions:
o How do mechanical engineers observe and think about machines?
o Are any of the machines you made as a group similar to the machines your group
looked at earlier?
o How are these machines different from each other?

Crank Winch Simple Machine

Materials:
1. Cardboard tubes
2. Spool
3. Straw or pencil
4. String
 5. Tape, Scissors
6. Small basket (object to attach to string)
Steps:
1. Tape 2 cardboard tubes to a solid surface. Use your straw as a reference tool for how far
apart they should be placed from each other.
2. Make 2 cuts at the top of each cardboard tube just big enough for the straw or pencil to
rest and be able to spin.
3. Put your spool on the straw or pencil. You still have a hand crank winch! Make sure to
secure it with tape to the straw or pencil. What if you dont secure it? The spool just spins
around the straw and their is no ending up of string!
4. Secure your string to spool with a piece of tape and tie your basket or object to the
bottom of the string.
 Marshmallow Catapult
Materials:
- Thick Popsicle sticks (4), thin Popsicle sticks (16), rubber bands, marshmallows

Directions:
1. Stack 8 thin Popsicle sticks together.
2. Rubber band both ends of the Popsicle sticks.
3. Place one of the thick Popsicle sticks between the stack of thin Popsicle sticks.
4. Place the other thick Popsicle stick on top of the stack of thin Popsicle sticks.
5. Rubber band the end of the two larger Popsicle sticks (see picture for clarification).
6. Place a mini marshmallow on the top of the large Popsicle stick.
7. See how far you can make your marshmallow go!

Pom Pom Drop

Materials:
- Paper towel rolls
- Toilet paper rolls
- Scissors
- Tape
- Pom poms or other types of small balls, such as marbles or bouncy balls
- Poster Board
Directions:
- Using the picture provided, tape down the toilet paper or paper towel rolls starting from the
top right and working your way to the bottom of the poster board.
- Your goal is to successful transfer the pom pom from the top roll to bottom.